Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Report of the Secretary of Agriculture in relation to the forests, rivers, and mountains of the southern Appalachian region

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  • SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 83 on the foothills. There are some fine farms on Valley River, Peach Tree, Tusquitee, Shooting, Tiger, and High- tower creeks, but large areas of hill land are worn out and abandoned to broom grass. This basin, or part of it, seems unusually liable to floods, as is shown by the cutting of banks and the washing of fields. About the head of Peach Tree Creek, in 1900, several "waterspouts" are said to have occurred at one time, and the water from these joining formed a torrent that swept across fields and roads, doing great damage. Evidences of similar floods and of great erosion on old fields are to be found in almost every mile of travel. The uselessness of clearing the ridge lands has been discovered by the farmers, and no advances of cleared land have recently been made toward the mountains, but many old fields lie wasted and wearing away, scantily patched with broom grass, persimmon, and sassafras. Distribution.—The mountains and spurs are principally forest-covered, although here and there clearings have been made in coves and along the tributary creeks. The larger creek valleys and the river valley are principally cleared. Composition.—In this region is found a suggestion of the difference between the forest of the cool highlands and that of the southern slope of the Blue Ridge. In passing from the highlands we are leaving the region of most vigorous tree growth and approaching the piny regions. Oaks and hickories are more numerous, but shorter and smaller; hemlock and white pine are less abundant; the birches and hard maples become rare, and the southern red maple, pitch pine, and shortleaf pine more abundant. Condition.—In condition, too, there is a noticeable contrast. Fires have been more prevalent and have kept decaying vegetation pretty thoroughly consumed. Fires have killed less timber, but have done no less damage by preventing that new growth which perpetuates the natural forest. On isolated wood lots and near clearings are many tracts of thrifty saplings, but the general forest condition, owing to fire and grazing, is inferior to that of the plateau. Reproduction.—The first and essential step toward the improvement of this forest would be the prevention of fire. Much of the stand is now so thin that thinnings need not be made at once. Erosion. The forest.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).